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Why does the gondola beep?
Have you ever noticed that cable car gondolas sometimes beep when they enter the station? This signal tone serves to simplify communication between the cable car operators and always has a very specific reason. We'll tell you about it in the blog post.
The cable car as a public transport
Cable cars are not only considered the safest means of transport in the world, in Austria they also count as public transport and are subject to their own cable car law. The safety standards are strictly regulated. One component is the so-called marking of gondolas, which is now standard. Add-ons such as WLAN or seat heating, on the other hand, are not a must, but a special comfort for the guest.
"Why do gondolas beep sometimes? Because the comfort and safety of our guests always come first."
Stefan Gietl, Operations Manager Stubai Glacier
EACH GONDOLA HAS ITS OWN IDENTITY
Even in the past, the identification of the cabins was perfectly possible in an analogue way by means of assigned numbering. In modern ropeway systems, each gondola can also be recorded by a computer. On a monitor it is thus possible to see at any moment which "number" is currently located where. These are permanently assigned to the individual transport units, which in modern installations even have their own IP address. Using the appropriate software, it is then even possible to mark them at a later date.
"TRACKING OUR GONDOLAS IS CHILD'S PLAY TODAY."
Stefan Gietl, Operations Manager Stubai Glacier
WHY ARE GONDOLAS MARKED?
The cable car not only transports passengers, it also brings tools, food and other consumer goods up the mountain. Waste on the other hand can easily be transported to the valley. The transported goods must be unloaded accordingly. Often there are also infirm persons, families with small children or even injured persons on board. Then is is particularly necessary to slow down on entry and provide assistance on exit or enable the fastest possible onward transport to the hospital.
But how are the staff supposed to know who or what or who is arriving at the station in the next gondola?
THE MARKING SERVES THE EXTENDED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND VALLEY
Some clever cable car operators have come up with the following resourceful solution: Each gondola is registered in the station. So before the car is coupled onto the rope, the computer knows: there is a gondola. If the employee now presses a certain button, he or she can program the gondola so that it triggers a signal tone the next time it enters the station. At the same time, the person makes a phone call to the following station to let them know which number was marked and why.
It worked this way even before the digital age. But it is precisely the combination of the latest technical possibilities and targeted human consultation that makes the ropeway such a safe and comfortable means of transport. So listen carefully the next time you hear a beep on the mountain!
